1 And the lot for the sons of Joseph goeth out from Jordan `by' Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness going up from Jericho in the hill-country of Beth-El,
2 and hath gone out from Beth-El to Luz, and passed over unto the border of Archi `to' Ataroth,
3 and gone down westward unto the border of Japhleti, unto the border of Beth-Horon the lower, and unto Gezer, and its outgoings have been at the sea.
4 And the sons of Joseph -- Manasseh and Ephraim -- inherit.
5 And the border of the sons of Ephraim is by their families; and the border of their inheritance is on the east, Atroth-Addar unto Beth-Horon the upper;
6 and the border hath gone out at the sea, to Michmethah on the north, and the border hath gone round eastward `to' Taanath-Shiloh, and passed over it eastward to Janohah,
7 and gone down from Janohah `to' Ataroth, and to Naarath, and touched against Jericho, and gone out at the Jordan.
8 From Tappuah the border goeth westward unto the brook of Kanah, and its outgoings have been at the sea: this `is' the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim, for their families.
9 And the separate cities of the sons of Ephraim `are' in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities and their villages;
10 and they have not dispossessed the Canaanite who is dwelling in Gezer, and the Canaanite dwelleth in the midst of Ephraim unto this day, and is to tribute -- a servant.
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Commentary on Joshua 16 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 16
Jos 16:1-4. The General Borders of the Sons of Joseph.
1. the lot of the children of Joseph fell—Hebrew, "went forth," referring either to the lot as drawn out of the urn, or to the tract of land thereby assigned. The first four verses describe the territory allotted to the family of Joseph in the rich domains of central Palestine. It was drawn in one lot, that the brethren might be contiguously situated; but it was afterwards divided. The southern boundary only is described here; that on the north being irregular and less defined (Jos 17:10, 11), is not mentioned.
water of Jericho—(2Ki 2:19), at the joint of its junction with the Jordan.
mount Beth-el—the ridge south of Beth-el. Having described the position of Joseph's family generally the historian proceeds to define the territory; first, that of Ephraim.
Jos 16:5-9. The Borders of the Inheritance of Ephraim.
5-9. the border of their inheritance … was Ataroth-addar—Ataroth-addar (now Atara), four miles south of Jetta [Robinson], is fixed on as a center, through which a line is drawn from Upper Beth-horon to Michmethah, showing the western limit of their actual possessions. The tract beyond that to the sea was still unconquered.
6, 7. Michmethah on the north side—The northern boundary is traced from this point eastward to the Jordan.
8. from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah—It is retraced from east to west, to describe the prospective and intended boundary, which was to reach to the sea. Kanah ("reedy") flows into the Mediterranean.
9. separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of Manasseh—(Jos 17:9), because it was found that the tract allotted to Ephraim was too small in proportion to its population and power.
10. they drave not out the Canaanites … but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute—This is the first mention of the fatal policy of the Israelites, in neglecting the divine command (De 20:16) to exterminate the idolaters.